A series of thunderstorms developed across the NWS Lubbock area of responsibility during the mid and late afternoon hours on Saturday, September 17 2005.  A large ridge of high pressure was situated across southeast Texas.  The clockwise circulation around this broad ridge allowed a channel of Pacific moisture to stream over the area and interact with sultry temperatures well into the 90s.  In fact, the high temperature on Saturday at the Lubbock International Airport reached 98 degrees which tied the previous record set in 1997.Between 8:30 PM CST and 12:30 AM CST, an area of dissipating thunderstorms progressed across the area from southwest to northeast over Terry, Hockley, Lubbock, Lynn, Garza and Crosby counties.  As this activity pushed through the region, strong winds and associated heat bursts occurred at several locations.  A heat burst occurs when air rapidly descends from a dissipating thunderstorm, typically with very little if any rainfall.  As the air sinks, compression will force heating, drying and a rapid rise in surface temperature.  In addition to a rise in temperature, heat bursts can be accompanied by strong and gusty wind.The hail and strong winds Saturday night and early Sunday morning resulted in varied amounts of damage across the area.   Large trees and/or tree branches were downed; structural damage occurred to car ports and overhang protection to resident porches; cotton plants were destroyed; automobiles, roofing and related structures were damaged.  The damage to automobiles and other windows occurred as nearby gravel was lifted by the strong wind and penetrated windshields and side windows.The National Weather Service in Lubbock, TX conducted a damage survey at the Memorial Baptist Church in Lubbock.  The church had a large hail and rain roof in place above a permanent roof.  This covering wasmade of sheet metal and had an overlap of approximately six inches on the south facing wall.  When the strong south wind ranging between 65 and 70 mph breached this roof, the metal was pealed off and became airborne and landed on trees on the north side of the church, as well as a residence across the street.Several of the Texas Tech/West Texas mesonet stations measured the heat burst and high wind events.  The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Lubbock, located in the Science Spectrum Building, measured a 15 degree rise in temperature with a 67 mph wind gust at 10:55 PM CST.  The following are some of the more significant measurements:Brownfield 2 south, 8 degree rise, 53 mph gust, 9:25 PM CST.Lubbock 3 west, 13 degree rise, 53 mph gust, 11:10 PM CST.Slaton 2 northeast, 15 degree rise, 56 mph gust, 11:30 PM CST.Ralls 1 southeast, 12 degree rise, 57 mph gust, 12:20 AM CST.In comparison, stations measuring less rise in temperature measured lower wind speed gusts:Lamesa 2 southeast, 5 degree rise, 27 mph gust, 10:35 PM CST.Graham 5 southwest, 4 degree rise, 35 mph gust, 11:10 PM CST.

Hail in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 16:12:00 to 17-SEP-05 16:12:00 (CST)
Location: WOODROW
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 16:21:00 to 17-SEP-05 16:21:00 (CST)
Location: SLATON
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Golfball to Hen egg sized hail covering the ground.

Hail in HALE, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 16:30:00 to 17-SEP-05 16:30:00 (CST)
Location: HALE CENTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in LAMB, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 15:05:00 to 17-SEP-05 15:05:00 (CST)
Location: LITTLEFIELD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in LAMB, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 15:35:00 to 17-SEP-05 15:35:00 (CST)
Location: FIELDTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in LAMB, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 15:45:00 to 17-SEP-05 15:45:00 (CST)
Location: OLTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD

Hail in LYNN, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 16:06:00 to 17-SEP-05 16:06:00 (CST)
Location: NEW HOME
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA

Hail in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 16:36:00 to 17-SEP-05 16:40:00 (CST)
Location: SLATON
Magnitude: 2.75 
Crop damage: 75K
Reported by: STORM CHASER

Golfball, tennis ball and baseball sized hail covering the ground.  Hail lasted for 4 minutes.

Hail in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 16:40:00 to 17-SEP-05 16:45:00 (CST)
Location: SLATON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD

Thunderstorm Wind in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 17:15:00 to 17-SEP-05 17:15:00 (CST)
Location: FLOYDADA
Magnitude: 59 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Measured by the Texas Tech/West Texas mesonet station.

Hail in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 17:16:00 to 17-SEP-05 17:16:00 (CST)
Location: FLOYDADA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD

Hail in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 17:16:00 to 17-SEP-05 17:16:00 (CST)
Location: FLOYDADA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD

High Wind in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 17-SEP-05 23:00:00 to 17-SEP-05 23:15:00 (CST)
Magnitude: 58 MG
Property damage: 150K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

High winds associated with downburst and heat burst conditions resulted in extensive damage across the City of Lubbock, TX.